Michelle Obama’s alliance pledges $2.5m to support education for girls: Can grassroots efforts solve deep-rooted challenges?
Former first lady Michelle Obama’s Girls Opportunity Alliance has pledged $2.5 million to support grassroots organisations working to improve education for adolescent girls in economically disadvantaged communities. The funding aims to help local groups cover school-related costs, challenge harmful cultural practices, and provide psychological support to girls at risk of dropping out of school.The announcement highlights the ongoing struggle to keep millions of girls in school worldwide, particularly amid warnings that funding cuts could reverse recent gains. Nearly three-quarters of the 119 million girls out of school globally are of secondary school age, according to UNICEF.Funding grassroots groups to tackle barriersThe Girls Opportunity Alliance, an initiative of the Obama Foundation, supports dozens of grassroots groups across Asia and Africa. These organisations work on issues such as child marriage, teenage pregnancy, and sexual abuse, which often prevent girls from completing their education.The alliance launched in 2018, building on a previous White House initiative that invested $1 billion in US government programmes promoting education for adolescent girls abroad. The current $2.5 million pledge is intended to fund specific projects rather than general operations, with grants of up to $50,000 available to applicants.Tiffany Drake, executive director of the Girls Opportunity Alliance, said the need for funding is more crucial than ever. Speaking as quoted by the Associated Press, she noted, “We were just in Mauritius and we heard it time and time again that organisations need funding. They need support.”Building connections and capacityThe alliance also offers monthly training sessions and in-person meetings, connecting local leaders with larger organisations such as UNICEF and Save the Children. These gatherings provide opportunities for sharing strategies and building networks.Jackie Bomboma, founder of the Young Strong Mothers Foundation in Tanzania and a recent grant recipient, said the alliance’s endorsement brings not only financial aid but also increased trust from the international community. “We call ourselves ‘watoto wa Michelle Obama,’ which means ‘the children of Michelle Obama,’” she said as quoted by the Associated Press. “Everyone feels proud to have such a strong and loving mother.”Bomboma’s organisation provides psychological support, vocational training, entrepreneurship skills, and sexual health lessons to girls at risk of child marriage and school dropout. Her personal experience of growing up without a mother and surviving teenage pregnancy informs her work.Addressing looming funding cutsThe announcement comes amid warnings from international aid groups that a 24% reduction in education funding from wealthy countries could force six million more girls out of school by the end of next year, UNICEF projects.The Girls Opportunity Alliance uses its broad platform to promote local organisations’ fundraising campaigns, amplifying their reach through social media and connections with celebrities and corporations.“We didn’t want to just tell people and say, ‘Google how you can help,’” Drake said as quoted by the Associated Press. “We wanted to give them a place where they can take action.”The initiative aims to encourage everyday individuals to support grassroots efforts, addressing the multifaceted barriers girls face to education in their communities.
